Golf club organizer for golf bag

ABSTRACT

The golf club organizer for a golf bag is a top collar for a golf bag that defines a web of compartments for inserting golf clubs into the bag which is designed to provide the user with improved club accessibility and improved golf club weight distribution when the golf bag is in the upright position. The compartments include a column of center compartments for inserting woods and a putter compartment directly in front of the compartments for the woods, and side compartments disposed on opposite sides of the column of center compartments providing improved accessibility to the irons as well as the putter when the golf bag is in use as a carry bag with a stand or a cart bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a golf club organizer for a golf bag, and more particularly to a top collar defining a golf club divider configuration located at the upper end of the golf bag. The golf club organizer provides a column of center compartments for the woods with a front compartment for a putter and side compartments for the irons, thereby providing quick and easy access to any desired golf club.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] All golf bags contain partitions for the separation of golf clubs within the golf bag. There are several designs for such partitions. Some golf bags use separate sleeves for each club. While this may seem to be a desirable design, in practice it is burdensome to use. It takes time to replace clubs in their designated slot. Further, the longer clubs tend to conceal or shield the designated slots for the other clubs from view, thereby increasing the burden of replacing the clubs in the golf bag.

[0005] Alternative designs include three crosspieces at the upper end of the bag that allow the clubs to be separated into three separate regions. For example in the upper region of the golf bag, the golfer frequently places woods, the middle region contains mid-size irons, viz., the 3-iron through 6-iron, and the lower region contains short irons and wedges. The three regions created by the crosspieces do not separate the clubs efficiently, and users find that the longer clubs or Woods situated horizontally in front conceal the shorter irons situated horizontally in the back.

[0006] Furthermore, since the longer clubs are also the heavier clubs and since the longer clubs are all situated in one region of the golf bag, the weight of the clubs within the golf bag is not evenly distributed, leading to an unbalanced golf bag. An unbalanced bag presents discomfort while carrying the golf bag, as well as stability problems when trying to rest the bag on the ground in the upright position.

[0007] In addition, golf bag tops in recent years have made special provision for the putter, which is statistically the most used club in the game. This club is also the shortest, and therefore the most difficult to find among the other clubs in the bag. The pivotal reason putters have been positioned in front of the traditional horizontal wood compartment is significant to our design. Traditionally, irons remain horizontally arranged below the wood compartment and thus significantly concealed by the longer clubs.

[0008] Various golf bags and accessories for organizing golf clubs have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,520, issued Jan. 19, 1999 to Tang, describes a golf club with a club separator for facilitating improved access to a putter by isolating the putter from the other golf clubs. A putter compartment is provided that is at a distinctly lower level than that of the main compartments for inserting the other golf clubs. In a similar attempt to isolate the putter, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0144918, published Oct. 10, 2002, describes, a golf bag top with a web divider for separating clubs into four separate quadrants. In addition, the web divider includes a central circular rib joined at the intersection where the four radial separator ribs meet to provide a central aperture for the storage of a putter.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,581, issued Dec. 12, 2000 to Hong, discloses a golf bag for arranging golf clubs according to their different lengths having a horizontal center compartment designed for drivers and fairway woods. On both sides of the center compartment are compartments designed for organizing irons. U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,240, issued Oct. 17, 1995 to Chang et al., discloses a golf bag having multiple decks with several compartments for isolating clubs. The golf bag includes a first deck of compartments for inserting short irons, a second deck of compartments for long irons, and a third deck of compartments for inserting woods.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,240, issued Oct. 17, 1995 to Rich et al., discloses a golf bag with individual club head support pockets having pockets for inserting woods positioned at the top of a bag, and having pockets at a lower portion of the bag for irons, which are positioned on both sides of a center pocket that is used for inserting a pitching wedge. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,566, issued Jul. 20, 1993 to Shenoha, discloses a golf bag top and club separator which includes two rows of staggered slots for retaining the heads of the golf clubs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,660, issued Dec. 7, 1993, discloses organizing golf clubs into three rows using a holding plate.

[0011] Other representative patents include U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,490, issued to Suk; U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,184, issued to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,346, issued to O'Connor; U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,825, issued to Summerlin; U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,691, issued to Sundara et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,841, issued to Kang; U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,690, issued to Swiatosz; U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,075, issued to Tan; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,359, issued to He et al.

[0012] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a golf club organizer solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The golf club organizer for a golf bag relates to a golf bag top collar with a divider configuration for organizing golf clubs for ready access and for better weight distribution in the golf bag. The top collar forms part of the framework of the golf bag, holding the mouth of the bag open and defining a web of compartments. The web of compartments includes a column of center compartments extending from front to back for organizing woods, and a plurality of side compartments on opposite sides of the center compartments for organizing irons, thereby providing the user with improved organization, club accessibility, and golf bag balance. A putter compartment is positioned directly in front of the center compartments in a lowered or recessed position with respect to the center compartments, providing improved accessibility to a putter.

[0014] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a golf club organizer for a golf bag defining a vertical column of center compartments extending from front to back and a plurality of side compartments on opposite sides of the center compartments, with the woods inserted in the center compartments and the irons positioned on both sides, thus providing improved access to irons regardless of the use or deployment of the bag.

[0015] It is another object of the invention to improve the balance of the bag by providing an improved and more even distribution of weight.

[0016] It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf club organizer for golf bag that is lightweight and made of molded plastic, resin, or other synthetic composite material.

[0017] Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf club organizer for a golf bag that enables a player to see immediately that his or her clubs are correctly repositioned and available once again in the bag, thereby reducing the risk of a lost or misplaced putter.

[0018] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0019] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a golf club organizer for a golf bag according to the present invention having two center compartments and a putter compartment.

[0021]FIG. 1B is an environmental, perspective view of a golf bag incorporating a golf club organizer according to the present invention, the bag being broken away to show attachment of the golf club organizer.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a top view of the golf club organizer for a golf bag of FIG. 1A.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a, environmental, front view of the golf club organizer for a golf bag of FIG. 1A.

[0024]FIG. 4 is an environmental, side view of the golf club organizer for a golf bag of FIG. 1A.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club organizer for a golf bag according to the present invention, having three center compartments and a putter compartment.

[0026]FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club organizer for golf bag according to the present invention, having four center compartments and a putter compartment.

[0027] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The present invention relates to a golf club organizer for a golf bag, designated generally as 30 in the drawings. The golf bag 20 has the club organizer 30 at its upper end designed to provide improved golf club accessibility and golf bag balance. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the golf bag 20 is typically made from leather, plastic, canvas cloth, or any other conventional material. The golf bag 20 includes a bag body 80 having a hollow tubular bag portion with an elongated generally tubular body defining a longitudinal axis, a bottom, and a golf bag top member 30. The golf bag 20 rests on the bottom or lower end of which serves as a base for supporting the golf clubs and supports the bag in an upright position while on the ground or mounted on a cart or in conjunction with an integrated stand.

[0029]FIG. 1B shows a typical golf bag construction. The golf bag 20 typically may have a framework formed by a rigid bottom or base ring, a top collar defined by club organizer 30, and a plurality of rods or tubes joining the base ring and the top collar 30. The canvas cloth or other bag material 80 is pulled up and over the bag framework, and may be wrapped around the rim of the top collar 30 and secured by stitching or rivets. The rods may be joined to the top collar by ultrasonic welding, by adhesive or thermoplastic resins, or by any other method conventionally known in the art for joining plastics. The top collar 30 may have bosses (not shown) for receiving the rods or tubes. Alternatively, the top collar may simply be secured to the open mouth of the bag by stitching or rivets.

[0030] The top member is a club organizer 30 made of a molded synthetic resin, plastic or other man made composite material and located at the upper end of the bag body 80, and has an inclined top surface, a sidewall, and a plurality of dividers forming a web of club-receiving compartments which are formed in the top surface of the top member 30 and extend through its sidewall. The top member 30 requires a similar amount of material to simple traditional tops and significantly less material and hence weight than those inventions previously noted due to its thin lightweight design. The top member 30 defines a column of center compartments extending from front to back (for purposes of the present application, the front of the golf bag 80 is taken to be the side having the handle or carrying strap 40 attached thereto) for organizing the woods 50.

[0031] A plurality of side compartments is defined on opposite sides of the column of center compartments for organizing the irons 70. A putter compartment for storing a putter 60 is positioned directly in front of the column of center compartments provided for the woods. The position of the putter compartment and iron compartments enable a player to immediately see the location of these clubs, thereby reducing the risk of a lost or misplaced putter. A strap 40 is attached to the sidewall of the bag body 80, thus allowing a golfer to carry the bag as he moves about the golf course.

[0032]FIG. 2 shows a top view of the top member 30 of FIG. 1. This embodiment includes two center compartments and a putter compartment. The top member 30 has a rim 200 that is oval in shape and encircles the outer edge of top member 30. Although the rim 200 of top member 30 and golf bag 20 of the present invention is oval in shape, it is understood that the invention is not limited to an oval shape and may be any conventional shape known in the art, e.g., circular, oblong, etc. The rim 200 and main dividers 210 define the boundaries of side compartment 240 and side compartment 250 for accessing irons. The dimensions of compartment 240 and compartment 250 are substantially the same. The main dividers 210, rim 200, and compartment divider 220 define the rear center compartment 260 while the main dividers 210, compartment divider 220, and putter divider 230 define front center compartment 270. The putter compartment 280 is positioned directly in front of the front center compartment 270 and has its boundaries defined by the putter divider 230 to the rear and the rim 200 to the front.

[0033] The dimensions of compartment 260 and compartment 270 are substantially the same as the putter compartment 280. Typical dimensions of the golf top member 30 may include a rim 200 that is five inches by six inches with the rear compartment 260, front compartment 270 and the putter compartment 280 each two inches in length.

[0034]FIGS. 3-4 illustrate the lowered recess 300 defining the front portion of the putter compartment 280. This lowered recess 300 provides a putter compartment 280 that is substantially lower than the other club-receiving compartments. Putter compartment 280, which is positioned directly in front of the front center compartment 270, is separated from front center compartment 270 via putter divider 230 and is isolated from the other club-receiving compartments due to this lowered recess 300, allowing easy access to a putter inserted therein. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the height of the top member 30 declines continuously with respect to the height of the back of top member 30. The putter divider 230 is elevated above the rim 200 at the position at the rear of the putter compartment. The elevated putter divider 230 aids in isolating a putter 60 placed in putter compartment 280 allowing improved accessibility to the putter 60.

[0035] In FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the golf bag 20 has a top member 30 that includes three center compartments 545, 546, 547 for inserting woods with putter compartment 555 for inserting a putter. In this embodiment, the top member 30 has a rim 510 that encircles the top member 30 and main dividers 520. The rim 510 and main dividers 520 define the side compartment 525, 526, 535, and 536 for accessing irons clubs. Additional dividers 530, 540 are used to further separate the compartments into even and odd irons, with the odd irons being inserted into compartments 525, 526 and the even irons being inserted into compartments 535, 536, or vice versa. The putter compartment 555 is positioned directly in front of the center compartment 547 and has its borders defined by the putter divider 560 to the rear and the rim 510 to the front. The lengths of compartments 545, 546, and 547 are substantially the same. The putter compartment 555 is slightly smaller. Typical dimensions of the golf top member 30 may be a rim 510 that is eight inches by 9.5 inches, with the compartments 545, 546, 547 each 2.5 inches in length and the putter compartment 555 being two inches in length.

[0036] A larger golf top member 30 may include a rim 500 that is nine inches by 10.5 inches, with the compartment 545 having a length of two inches, compartment 546 having a length of three inches, compartment 547 having a length of three inches, and putter compartment 555 having a length of two inches.

[0037] In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the golf bag 20 has a top member 30 similar to that of FIG. 5, except with four center compartments 645, 646, 647, and 648 that are arranged for accessing woods. In this embodiment, the top member 30 has a rim 610 that encircles the top member 30 and main dividers 620. The rim 610 and main dividers 620 define the side compartments for accessing irons. Dividers 630, 640 are used to further separate the compartments into even and odd irons with the odd irons being inserted into compartments 625, 626 and the even irons being inserted into compartments 635, 636, or vice versa. The putter compartment 655 is positioned directly in front of the center compartment 648 and has its borders defined by the putter divider 660 to the rear and the rim 610 to the front. This embodiment of the top member 30 may have dimensions proportional to the three-center compartment and putter compartment configuration of FIG. 5.

[0038] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A golf club organizer for a golf bag, the golf bag having a tubular body and a handle attached to a front side of the tubular body, the golf club organizer comprising: a top collar adapted for defining an open mouth of the golf bag, the top collar being a rigid body having a sidewall defining an inclined top surface and having a plurality of dividers extending between the side wall and defining a plurality of club-receiving compartments, the plurality of club-receiving compartments including: a column of center compartments adapted for extending from the front side to a rear side of the golf bag and being adapted for insertion and retrieval of woods; and a lowered recessed compartment adapted for insertion and retrieval of putter disposed directly in front of the column of center compartments, the column of center compartments and the lowered recessed compartment being separated by a divider wall having a height extending above the sidewall.
 2. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said top collar further defines a plurality of side compartments on opposite sides of the column of center compartments, the side compartments being adapted for the insertion and retrieval of irons.
 3. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said top collar further comprises a divider on each side of the column of center compartments defining at least two side compartments on opposite sides of the column adapted for defining compartments for separating irons.
 4. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein the lowered recessed compartment is defined by an arcuate depression in said sidewall.
 5. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said top collar is integrally formed from a molded synthetic resin, plastic or other man made composite material.
 6. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of two center compartments.
 7. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of three center compartments.
 8. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of four center compartments.
 9. The golf club organizer according to claim 1, further comprising the golf bag.
 10. A golf bag with golf club organizer, comprising: a tubular bag having an open mouth and having a handle attached to a front side of the bag; and a top collar attached to the bag and forming a rigid frame defining the open mouth of the golf bag, the top collar being a rigid body having a sidewall defining an inclined top surface and having a plurality of dividers extending between the side wall and defining a plurality of club-receiving compartments, the plurality of club-receiving compartments including: a column of center compartments extending from the front side to a rear side of the golf bag and being adapted for insertion and retrieval of woods; and a lowered recessed compartment adapted for insertion and retrieval of putter disposed directly in front of the column of center compartments, the column of center compartments and the lowered recessed compartment being separated by a divider wall having a height extending above the sidewall.
 11. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, The golf club organizer according to claim 1, wherein said top collar further defines a plurality of side compartments on opposite sides of the column of center compartments, the side compartments being adapted for the insertion and retrieval of irons.
 12. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein said top collar further comprises a divider on each side of the column of center compartments defining at least two side compartments on opposite sides of the column defining compartments adapted for separating irons.
 13. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein the lowered recessed compartment is defined by an arcuate depression in said sidewall.
 14. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein said top collar is integrally formed from a molded synthetic resin, plastic or other man made composite material.
 15. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of two center compartments.
 16. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of three center compartments.
 17. The golf bag with golf club organizer according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of center compartments consists of four center compartments. 